leicesters: (112)
Claude von Riegan ([personal profile] leicesters) wrote in [community profile] kenoscomm2024-03-08 01:40 pm

LOCKED TO MERIDIAN

[Claude's communion prescence has always been like a summer breeze; warm, easygoing, albeit difficult to read before it moves on. Now it has more of a brittle, bitter quality, like a looming dust-cloud he has to hold at a distance. There's no going back from this point when he knows things will only escalate from here, and so now seems like an important time to address his fellow Meri.]

The fight for the next Oracle will be on us soon. The Tribune may have been slain, but he entrusted the future of the worlds to us. Though he won't be able to help us see this through, we can still fight for him, and all the others we've lost along the way. We can fight for Springstar... and we can fight for Quetzalcoatl.

[There's a brief pause on this point. Her death deserves respect and acknowledgement, and she may not be the last to meet such a fate before the fighting is over.]

...We'll fight for your homes, too. After all, our worlds aren't that different, right? They might be flawed in their own ways, and there might even be some of you who would rather stay here when this is done. But every world and the life on it is precious, and it beats whatever phony world Yima and her followers come up with.

Speaking of Yima: I've discussed this with a few people already, but I suspect she's still alive. When the Blight almost destroyed Kenos, somehow she was still around. When I asked her about it, she said she wasn't bound by time like a normal person is. She can exist in different times and different places simultaneously; I don't know how it works, but maybe she even foresaw this attempt on her life before it even happened.

That said, it's just speculation, so we might as well play dumb and behave towards Zenith as if we're convinced she's dead for now. It'll be easier for us that way.

[Others have probably arrived at a similar conclusion, perhaps people among Zenith's ranks too, but it bears saying, particularly for those newly arrived to the conflict.]

Anyway, enough about her -- how about we use this opportunity for a little strategy get-together? We have a few new faces around, so feel free to introduce yourself and your capabilities.

For those of us who have been around longer, feel free to toss in an introduction too. More importantly, share what you know about Zenith and its current capabilities, in combat or otherwise. Any insight into their current thinking would be useful right now, too. What's their morale like? We know by now that some of them really hate our guts, and I wonder how much their desire for revenge is going to play into the next battle...

[He sounds casual, almost flippant, but there's a serious point in there he's sure he doesn't need to overstate: the more loyal Zenites are going to have some serious motivation in the next battle to get back at them, whether they believe Yima is gone or not.]

Let's not let our own judgement be clouded by revenge, even if we've sustained losses. We need to go into this with a clear head, looking toward the future.

Oh-- on that note, Hayame wants to speak with some of you about some further strategising either before or after the Oracle. Sorry that's a little vague, but I'm sure she'll talk to you about it properly when the time comes. For now, let's just focus on one thing at a time.
sheezit: (s22)

[personal profile] sheezit 2024-03-12 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I dunno if that's about thinking us bad people, either. Honestly, he didn't even seem like he wanted to fight me if I'd given him the chance to talk. Who would try to waste any time on anyone they thought unworthy?

[ So should they really just give up on him? Meridian is all about hope, isn't it? ]

Anyway, he's pretty isolated as it is, but I wouldn't say that weakens him. He may have lost hope in his old world, but I get the feeling that person whose Shard he carries? Right now, that's his whole world. [ bro... ] So in a way, there's still some of that Meridian fight in him, even if he's a loose cannon at the moment.
sterngaze: (neutral: commish)

[personal profile] sterngaze 2024-03-12 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I've done something similar with my own home.

[Minus the permanent light effect, obviously.]

If you ever have somewhere specifically you wish to have protected, I can make the time.
a_noble_flame: (015)

[personal profile] a_noble_flame 2024-03-12 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
That would be very kind of you. For myself I simply wish to understand this world and the two factions better if possible.
wolfish: (say)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-12 10:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I could only speak to what I've been involved in. Usually recon or retrieval.
dreamflowers: (skinning the children for  a war drum)

[personal profile] dreamflowers 2024-03-13 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
Kinda. Just to make sure.

[Prophets do tend to be religious, making wild claims about the end of the world or some other hogwash that turns out to never happen. Except in her case, which it turned out to be true.

[Hates that for herself.

[She then scoffs.]


If only it were that easy. I tend to see into the past more than the future -- and of course, I don't have control over when or where they happen.

...Despite the namesake, I don't actually do much in the way of prophesying.
escardos: (onze.)

[personal profile] escardos 2024-03-13 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
You’re asking a lot of questions that I don’t know!

[ “who is she, as a person?” is a hell of a question to ask about a mage, a type of person who could easily and happily drown in their own secrets.

flat knows her as a classmate and fellow mage— not much more than that. and even then, who knows how different this rin might turn out? she seemed to think that the world wasn’t worth saving… what’s up with that? ]


She’s a strong mage— one of the strongest I’ve met! And, on top of that, she’s really good at martial arts. She always kicks my butt in seconds, so I would never want to fight her physically. Magically, I could probably take her on, but she’d probably shatter my sternum or my ribs with a good punch or kick soooo, no thanks! You guys can face her instead.

[ hahaha! ]

Also, when I told her we were classmates, she grabbed me by the collar and shook me while yelling, so I think she’s pretty happy.

[ what part of that sounded happy? ]
dreamflowers: (17012465)

[personal profile] dreamflowers 2024-03-13 08:31 am (UTC)(link)
Well, if you have any work that might require discretion again, I'm pretty well-suited for that shit.

[Despite her size, she's pretty stealthy.]

Now that I've got my magic, I can even use some spells to make myself invisible and silent.
wolfish: (regard)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-13 09:39 am (UTC)(link)
Seems like everyone's got an invisibility trick, I'm almost jealous.

[ The thought comes with a measure of humor though. They only benefit from people having that at their disposal. ]

Going forward, I've no doubt we'll have need of it. Given recent events, chances are people like us will have work to do.
dreamflowers: (dead inside but enjoying the ride)

[personal profile] dreamflowers 2024-03-13 10:02 am (UTC)(link)
It's pretty handy, I gotta say. Wish I had it sooner.

[Her original stowaway situation probably would have turned out a lot differently if she was already magically gifted with such feats.]

Figured as much. I think I'm still new enough that folks might not recognize me right away, so I thought I'd offer. Not to be presumptuous, but who knows how long my incognito status will last.
wolfish: (mull)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-13 10:42 am (UTC)(link)
I'd wager invisibility will get you further than newness now. The way I hear it, people in both cities aren't trusting of the unharmonized...and seeing as you've picked a camp, anyone sympathetic to Zenith is bound to notice sooner or later.

[ Yuri got by for a good while on ambiguity until Hayame purposefully limited a message to only Meridian. ]

People are much more vigilant now than they used to be.
dreamflowers: (16888664)

[personal profile] dreamflowers 2024-03-13 11:32 am (UTC)(link)
Makes sense. People tend to get on edge after a good massacre. But it's a good thing I have options -- and if any of those fail, I'll improvise.

[If she can't fight or talk her way out of a bind, she can always zip out pretty fast.]

Are there any areas of interest I should keep in mind? I was planning to get more familiar with Kowloon since I'm used to places like that, but I understand that it's a pretty big area to cover.
warmare: (Default)

[personal profile] warmare 2024-03-13 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[It is tempting to say her own home, because the threat of shadows snatching when she is vulnerable or has her guard half-down is a large one, but... No, that sounds too selfish. The church will be close enough if things should escalate.]

I will defer to your judgement for now.

Let us hope that issue does not become more pressing. We already have enough chaos to deal with in Springstar and Alenroux as is.
warmare: (pic#16524843)

[personal profile] warmare 2024-03-13 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[As if such a thing as a friendly jab could exist, especially when aimed against so serious a topic or one that involved a failure?!]

Yes, I am tough.

[... Hayame, please.]

- You may think of it as this. Before, I was an instructor to the Legionary, primarily, who occasionally did missions for the General. Now... I am directly beneath her in rank, and I will command missions, not just accept them.

This is a burden I accepted. So I will bear it.

[...]

But I will not be doing it alone. When the time comes I will gather a trustworthy council.
wolfish: (regard)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-13 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
A few of us have been looking into the Kowloon situation, actually, and I wouldn't complain about more hands. We've got our work cut out for us when it comes to that place.

[ Jade's got a good head on her shoulders, and he sees no reason not to work with her on this when she's got relevant skills. Ironically most of the people on this particular project are of the same aspect. ]

Zenith's influence down there led to all these monster attacks and contributed to that massacre, so it's not something we have the luxury of ignoring.
Edited 2024-03-13 19:57 (UTC)
sheezit: (s1)

[personal profile] sheezit 2024-03-14 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
[ BIG MENTAL SIGH. One day he WILL get some humor out of her, mark his words!!

In the meantime though, he's at least happy to hear the latter half of her response. That's one less Faerghan tendency to worry about!! ... he thinks. ]


Yeah, I wouldn't expect you to back down from the challenge, but I gotta say I'm pretty relieved you won't be trying to tackle it all on your own. I've got my hands full just with the Dimitri back home as it is.

[ The Dimitri here in Kenos seems somewhat better about that, but on the other hand he's just as stubborn, so one can never be too sure. ]

Anyway, I dunno what kind of missions you'll be running, but if you need some extra steel, I'm pretty reliable in combat! Just say the word and I'll be ready to help out!
sheezit: (s8b)

[personal profile] sheezit 2024-03-14 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
Eh, worth a shot. We still welcome any kind of help we can get, though!

[ It's encouraging!! Shez may not be the ideas guy, but he figures there must be some way those visions of the past can help them solve some mysteries in Kenos!! ]

But now you got me thinking... What happens if you get one of those visions right in the middle of battle? If you have no control over when or where they happen, doesn't that kind of put you in a vulnerable position?
dreamflowers: if there's something to be gained (i won't lie)

[personal profile] dreamflowers 2024-03-14 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
I'll do what I can, though I can't make any promises.

[His question makes her pause, though.]

I... Hm. Never had it happen in the middle of a fight before, I don't think? I mean, they sometimes happen right before a fight or an attack...

But I'm not sure. Time seems kinda bizarre during a vision, so you don't need to worry about me... blanking out or whatever for several seconds.
dreamflowers: (shows up late with starbucks)

[personal profile] dreamflowers 2024-03-14 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
Definitely doesn't seem like a one-man operation, no.

[Hence why she's offering. She might not have as good a head on her shoulders as Yuri thinks, but she's survived in places like that before.]

I won't pretend I understand anything going on there, but I can easily get started.

What's this about Zenith and monsters, now?
escardos: (deux.)

[personal profile] escardos 2024-03-14 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, they're... really not. Well, they're not the worst, but they're pretty weird.

[ and flat doesn't know how to deal with sarcasm. ]

But yeah, let me know if you ever get poisoned and I'll be there as fast as teleportation can take me!
escardos: (pic#13489840)

[personal profile] escardos 2024-03-14 03:33 am (UTC)(link)
I wonder if we can speak to it again.

[ this is a genuine question. ]
wolfish: (setback)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-14 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
Weird's rather generous.

[ Flat please, he needs his flippancy and sarcasm. ]

...You can warp over distances?

[ Lad??? ]
escardos: (pic#16002353)

[personal profile] escardos 2024-03-14 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
Nope! But wouldn't it be cool if I could?

[ help. ]
wolfish: (setback)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-14 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
[ His standards for a good head are essentially just being capable of and inclined toward survival... But he does come from a nation known to be populated by people who tend to choose hills to die on. ]

So there's this district known as Ryad down there, yeah? Monsters, human or otherwise, could hunt and kill with impunity there. Trouble is, some from Zenith eliminated the Meridian-aligned gang down there and applied pressure to Ryad's overseer. One of the main men behind all that being a druglord named Silco.

Monsters started coming topside and hunting Springstar's citizens in the streets. During that massacre, drug-addled folk joined the fray as well.
wolfish: (regard)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-14 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
So what's the teleportation bit about, cornerstones?

[ He's just guessing now, help. ]
escardos: (pic#13770514)

[personal profile] escardos 2024-03-14 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
I agree! It's much easier this way. The less fighting the better.

[ and while a part of him is curious to have seen how subaru's style of fighting is...it's not a big loss, actually. ]

And now we can be allies in this oracle thing. Woo!

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